Forum Name: Assyrian Forums - Religion
Message URL: https://www.atour.com/cgi-bin/forums/board.cgi?forum=religion&mark=25&az=next_topic&archive=
Message ID: 0

#0, Apology From The Holy See
Posted by Mary C. on Oct-14-1999 at 01:43 PM

The English newspaper,The Daily Telegraph published one year ago an article that the Vatican was preparing a document which would have been very important since in it The Holy See was expected to offer an apology for several acts which occured especially during the Crusades. Some examples were mentioned such as the burning of the Domenican missionary Girolambo Savonarola in 1498,the Philosopher Giordano Bruno in 1600 and others.Also this important document was to strongly condemn the bad treatment which the Jews of Europe suffered during the War at the hands of(christians).This document is supposed to be prepared before the year 2000,and its importance must be taken into consideration especially because it's coming at the end of the twentieth century,thus,perhaps the Vatican is looking forward towards a new era. However,one can't help but to wonder whether the special committee of Church historians which was chosen by the Pope John Paul II,will take into consideration the suffering of thousands of believers of the Ancient"Assyrian"Church of The East.Those people who opened their hearts and homes for the missionaries from Europe and some of those missionaries instead of building bridges of peace and christian brotherly love,they came to interfere,split,and put divisions among the believers of the same church,turning it into several churches and sowing the seeds of hatred among its children rendering them into enemies instead of planting the seeds of love.Will the Vatican Church historians document these "missionary" travels as an act which merits an apology,and perhaps while they are busy apologizing for what happened during the Crusades,they can put down an apology for what happened in the name of christianity against their fellow christians of the East,not only in the Near East but as far as China and India. We have been suffering over many generations at the hands of many people near and far,perhaps an apology like this can in a way even if it is symbolic,give some peace to the souls of those who perished,and may be we can get some justice. The Assyrians do not have foreign international organizations or governments to support their plight but they have faith in The Lord,Almighty, who is the judge of all and history which is the witness to all,and the Assyrians will continue to depend on themselves and the support of those who believe in true justice,as they are entering the third millennium defending and preserving their existence and just cause.